What does British Protected Person mean?

Certain individuals would have become a British protected person on the 1st of January 1983 if:

• They were a citizen or a national of Brunei.
• They were already holding British protected person citizenship.
• When they were born, they would have been a stateless person in the United Kingdom or an overseas territory, due to one the parents being a British protected person.

But, in most cases, individuals would have lost their British protected person status if:

• They gained any other nationality or any other citizenship.
• The territory they were connected with became independent and the person then became a citizen of that particular country.

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Your Rights as a British Protected Person

British protected persons can:

• Hold a British passport.
• Get consular assistance and protection from United Kingdom diplomatic posts.

But, holding this particular status means:

• You would still be subject to immigration controls. In this case, you would not have the ‘automatic’ right to live or work in the United Kingdom.
• The European Union (EU) would not consider you as a United Kingdom national.

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Becoming a British Protected Person

There are certain circumstances where you can register as a British protected person (BPP). But, it would only be possible if all these apply to your situation:

• You are a stateless person (and you always have been).
• You were born in the United Kingdom or one of the overseas territories.
• Your father or your mother was a British protected person at the time of your birth.

You can contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you believe you might qualify as a British protected person.

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Registering as a British Citizen

As a British protected person (BPP), you may be able to register as a British citizen if you meet certain conditions. You can check your eligibility to become a British citizen in a different section.

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